Come On Die Young

As over the top it may sound, the best way of describing Mogwai's music comes in a sample from their first LP Mogwai Young Team; "if the stars had a sound, they would sound like this."

Mogwai's debut was one of the most challenging and unique records to come out in 1997, and at the risk of being presumptuous, I doubt few will shine as brightly as this in 1999.

You could say Come On Die Young has the sparseness and beautiful minimalism of Joy Division, yet a lushness befitting My Bloody Valentine, but you would still not be doing the album justice. While Mogwai Young Team was a delicious pick 'n' mix of slow, sad tracks and 'loud/quiet/loud again/quiet again' epics, CODY is one seamlessly smooth, haunting soundscape.

Here, Mogwai are a group beginning to orbit their own universe, and in that universe you'll find the most gorgeous, terrifyingly brilliant instrumental music you'll hear anywhere. Some of their stars are eerie, sad and strange like 'Ex-Cowboy'. Others like 'Chocky' self-combust from claustrophobic sound effects and lilting pianos. And then there are lonely yet warm-hearted tracks, like the beautifully titled; 'May Nothing but Happiness Come Through Your Door'. CODY's arrangements and performances are breathtakingly original, infused with rawness and passion.

Mogwai are essentially a bunch of amazingly talented small-town Scottish street punks. They have made an album of heart-breaking, devastating beauty.